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Websleuths News

Join Websleuths Radio for the final discussion of THE KILLING SEASON
with Josh Zemam, Rachel Mills and special guests including Bob Kolker author of Lost Girls

This is outrageous. The man is supposed to be looking out for the welfare of the country's most vulnerable children. I'm very curious as to what constitutes production of child porn in New South Wales. Does it mean that he photographed the children himself or copied or downloaded vile images? Does anyone know?

"Steve Larkins is the chief executive of the Hunter Aboriginal Children's Services, which provides foster care and support for Indigenous families in the region.

The 44-year-old man was arrested this week after police searched the organisation's headquarters in the Newcastle suburb of Tighes Hill. They also searched his home at nearby Mayfield. Police seized several computer and communication devices.

Larkins has been charged with producing, disseminating or possessing child pornography, and has been stood down from his job until the police investigation is completed...."

"A nationally recognised leader in indigenous children's services, who has been responsible for placing hundreds of troubled youngsters in care across the Hunter, has been stood down after being charged with possessing child pornography. Steve Larkins, the chief executive officer of Hunter Aboriginal Children's Services (HACS), was arrested..."

and

"...It is alleged police found images and videos on a computer drive of children performing sex acts, and the 44-year-old was subsequently charged with one count of producing, disseminating or possessing child abuse material. Newcastle City detectives also seized "additional computer-related devices" from Larkins's Mayfield home..."

and

"...HACS provides foster care and support for indigenous families, out-of-home care to Aboriginal children, and recruitment training and support to Aboriginal foster carers. A NSW government press release, issued when the new HACS offices were opened last November by then Community Services Minister Linda Burney and Minister for the Hunter JM, quoted Larkins as saying HACS was the oldest Aboriginal children's service in the state and had been operating for 25 years. It had 21 staff and had 53 children in its care.

Larkins has been chairman of the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care, a teacher and social worker and has also been chairman of the Worimi Conservation Lands Board of Management...."

"...Steve Larkins was charged in April this year with one count of producing and disseminating child pornography, after 51 images were allegedly found on a computer thumb drive. The 45-year-old was immediately stood down as chief executive of Hunter Aboriginal Children's Services and from his role on the advisory pool for the New South Wales Government's Child Protection Advisory Group...."

and

"...Larkins was re-arrested this morning and has since been charged with an additional 17 offences. They include possessing child pornography, aggravated indecent assault of a person under 16, obtaining benefit by deception, forgery and making false and misleading statements."

"One of Australia's leading Aboriginal child protection advocates has pleaded not guilty to child sex offences...."

and

"....Steven Andrew Larkins, 45, is the former chief executive of Hunter Aboriginal Children's Services. He has also worked in advisory roles on child protection issues for the State and Federal Governments. Larkins was stood down as CEO of the Hunter organisation last year, after being charged with 20 offences. They include aggravated indecent assault, possessing child pornography and forgery...."